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Committee adopts substitute for House Bill 216, allowing land swaps in Whittier railroad conveyance
Summary
The Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee adopted a committee substitute for House Bill 216 that lets the Alaska Railroad Corporation satisfy fair-market-value requirements with cash, a land exchange or a combination for five parcels in Whittier; the city and railroad voiced support and there was no public testimony.
The Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee on April 30 adopted a committee substitute for House Bill 216 that gives the Alaska Railroad Corporation flexibility to convey five identified parcels of railroad land within the City of Whittier by cash sale, land exchange of equivalent appraised value, or a combination of both.
Representative Kai Holland, the bill sponsor, told the committee the proposal is the Senate companion to legislation considered earlier and described it as a limited authorization under Alaska statute AS 42.42.085 to convey the parcels to the city "subject to fair market value and existing rights." He said the substitute language gives the city and railroad an option — not a requirement — to pursue land exchanges in potential future transactions.
Aidan Nichols, staff to Representative Holland, summarized the change in more detail: "Version A of the bill allowed the land to be conveyed only via cash sale. Version G adds that a land swap may take place or a combination of land and cash exchange, still requiring that the assets being conveyed to the railroad are equivalent to the fair market value of the land being transferred to the city." Nichols told the committee the change is supported by both the City of Whittier and the Alaska Railroad Corporation.
Jackie Wilde, city manager for the City of Whittier, testified in support, saying the substitute "gives us more opportunity to work side by side and hand in hand with the railroad" and that the change "brings on so much economic development in the future for us." Megan Clemens, external affairs director for the Alaska Railroad Corporation, participated remotely and affirmed the railroad's continued support, saying the substitute "maintains clarity about the statutory requirement to sell railroad land at fair market value, but allows the flexibility to have that requirement met through a cash transaction, a land transfer of equal appraised value, or a combination of both."
The committee opened public testimony and heard none in the room or online. After discussion and the staff summary of the substitute, the chair removed an earlier objection and the substitute was adopted. No roll-call vote was recorded in the hearing; the action was reflected as adopted by unanimous consent in the committee.
The bill now proceeds with the committee substitute language included; committee members did not take additional action on the measure at this meeting. The committee scheduled its next meeting for Tuesday, May 5 at 1:30 p.m.
